Golden Labrador keeps licking/eating paw

brendan86

Hi, so maybe 2 years ago my Labrador started eating at her back leg and left a mark.. Took her to the vets and vet said its caused by anxiety/depression. It never healed 100% but got a lot better..

Now she's started eating at her front paw and back paw.. Is there anything I can do to stop her from doing this? Last time I took her to the vets there wasn't much they could do they said just try keep her happy.

I bought her creams for it and taped her legs up but she just chews the elastic band off.. Anyone got suggestions?

NutmegGirl

Our golden who is 6 had similar problems
Our vEt explained that g retriever/labradors can be quite scratchy, it's a type of allergy similar to hay fever/eczema in humans
We tried changing her food, had blood tests to try and see what she might be allergic to, nothing showed up, vet said it could be dust mites, or plant/trees, she spends a lot of time in garden going through bushes, so nothing easy that we could cut out even if we had discovered what was causing it.

She'd always scratched a lot, to the point where she would bleed under her chin, licked her paws until the fur was rubbed off and what fur was left was discoloured from licking. She would also kinda nibble her paws but never to the extent of eating herself through to the bone which vet said was possible. She had v little fur on her paws and also on her tummy. Steroids used to stop this but long term use not ideal and once she was off the steroids behaviours would start again. She also got a lot of ear infections so we were fairly regularl visitors to the vet. They discussed long term steroid use with us but we weren't keen because of the side effects.

About a year ago a new medication called Apoquel was introduced and this has made a huge difference to her. They can stay on it longeterm with no side effects acc to vet, Lexie has been on it nearly a year now. Started off on a dose which is now reduced, trial and error to see what worked. If she stops it within 24 hours the scratching starts again, we had thought some of the scratching was a habit, but this shows it's not.

It's quite expensive about €80 a month but is covered on our insurance. We pay and are then reimbursed every few months, easier to claim every few months rather than every month.

It's been life changing for her, her fur is completely grown back, no longer discoloured, no cuts, no side affects as far as we can see. No ear infection since she's been on it.
Vet also recommended a supplement of oils in her food which we're using too. Not sure if that's making any difference or not but we've kept going with it.

tk123

OP you need to get a second opinion if that's all the advice your vet gave! Have they done a skin scrape/allergy test/anything at all to rule out an allergy?

brendan86

Thanks for your long detailed post nutmeggirl.

I will take her to another vet as suggested over the weekend, was just checking people with similar problems and what they did to stop it, it can be quite common for some labradors as goggle suggests. But I'd rather hear peoples stories if they had similar problems.

Thanks

tk123

My boy used to get a rash from the cut grass in the park when he was fed dry food, improved slightly when I switched to cereal free and hasn't happened since I switch to raw food years ago

jimf

is she doing it the all the time or just the spring/summer months

brendan86

jimf wrote: »

is she doing it the all the time or just the spring/summer months

I guess it could be more often spring/summer months.. I use to have her in my house and she loved it was aloud roam about house, cuddle up on couch and had her own room etc but then moved back to my parents while back and she's not aloud in house there and I did a shed up for her outside. So I think that has a part to play and she does it out of boredom more so anything else.

WARFIELDWOLF

what food/s treats are you using?

brendan86

WARFIELDWOLF wrote: »

what food/s treats are you using?

Pedigree nuts sometimes buy the beef sometime the chicken.. Don't give her any treats lately..

cocker5

brendan86 wrote: »

Pedigree nuts sometimes buy the beef sometime the chicken.. Don't give her any treats lately..

Deffo move from pedigree nuts OP it's a very low quality dog food. Google grain free etc

brendan86

Any suggestion in brand for different nuts?

So I've decided to buy these 3 things in file I uploaded below, in fairness she's overdue the spot on I think and I will give her a good wash with the shampoo and all her bedding etc.

I am getting that bandage also but I dunno what use it will be she will probably bite it off. Anyone any other ideas of bandages she may not eat through.

brendan86

Forgot to upload image of items I'm buying

brendan86

Here is a pic of her front foot and back foot , if someone can have a look and let me know what they think

CeilingFly

Most likely a yeast infection.

http://dogsaholic.com/care/yeast-infection-in-dogs-paws.html

May simply require a change in food.

Cakerbaker

You mentioned boredom. My parents lab had a bare patch on her leg for about a year. It started as a small injury and she just kept licking it to the point she had a bald patch. They tried a collar and bandages but none of them worked. Then (and I appreciate this may not be possible for everyone) they adopted a puppy from a shelter. Shortly after we realised the bald patch was gone.

CeilingFly

brendan86 wrote: »

Here is a pic of her front foot and back foot , if someone can have a look and let me know what they think

That's different - thought it was underside of paw which is where yeast infections occur, so discount yeast and probably also discount harvest mites.

Definitely something for vet.

Alternative is to find a Facebook group for the breed and ask the question there.

Here's an article that may help http://www.dailydogdiscoveries.com/tag/my-dog-licks-his-front-legs/

coathanger

My dog went through a similar phase last spring & summer.The recommended Apoquel but I didn't want to go down that route as was just over a year old.

I changed her food to grain free, I wipe her down with a face flannel after being outdoors etc,Also I put a teaspoon of virgin cold compressed coconut oil(aldi sell it) & she gets omega 3 oil every day> I give her a monthly flea spot on & regularly wash her bedding on a very hot wash & the difference has been amazing .Even the vet has remarked on her transformation.

Also I note that therehas been a major change in your/her life, she's used to being in the house & part of family life & now she is outside,shes probably anxious & stressed about it all,which is not helping.

brendan86

coathanger wrote: »

My dog went through a similar phase last spring & summer.The recommended Apoquel but I didn't want to go down that route as was just over a year old.

I changed her food to grain free, I wipe her down with a face flannel after being outdoors etc,Also I put a teaspoon of virgin cold compressed coconut oil(aldi sell it) & she gets omega 3 oil every day> I give her a monthly flea spot on & regularly wash her bedding on a very hot wash & the difference has been amazing .Even the vet has remarked on her transformation.

Also I note that therehas been a major change in your/her life, she's used to being in the house & part of family life & now she is outside,shes probably anxious & stressed about it all,which is not helping.

Ye I really have a feeling its more anxiety /depression with the changes in her life recently. Are the products I'm getting good? I'm putting order through first thing in the morning as I'm thinking it will help clear up her paws and if I don't see a change in a week I will take her to vets. I'm just going to hold off this time I think as these products may work and I will spend some extra time with her playing ball during the day etc.

I would like to order a cream for the paws before I bandage it up could someone recommend one please from amazon ?

coathanger

brendan86 wrote: »

Ye I really have a feeling its more anxiety /depression with the changes in her life recently. Are the products I'm getting good? I'm putting order through first thing in the morning as I'm thinking it will help clear up her paws and if I don't see a change in a week I will take her to vets. I'm just going to hold off this time I think as these products may work and I will spend some extra time with her playing ball during the day etc.

I would like to order a cream for the paws before I bandage it up could someone recommend one please from amazon ?

Google "Hot spots" & see what u think. The one on the front leg,looks infected to me, & will probably need a course of antiobiotics from the vet ,I would leave the air at it & help to dry it out & instead get one of those buster collars( lampshades) to put on her,so she cant be at the wounds.Also if u think its boredom related,try getting her a kong,you stuff it with her food & she has to get it out ,will keep her busy for a while.If u need any more help,PM me.

DBB

brendan86 wrote: »

I would like to order a cream for the paws before I bandage it up could someone recommend one please from amazon ?

OP, with respect, people are not in a position to advise on products that you should be applying to your dog's wounds, primarily because nobody is in a position to diagnose the problem unless they're a vet, and vets themselves will generally avoid remote diagnoses. In addition, although a small amount of leeway may be permitted depending upon the circumstances, generally it is not permitted to dispense medical advice on boards.
Whilst I realise people mean well, there's a bit too much Internet diagnosis going on in this thread, when you really need to be seeking veterinary advice, via a 2nd opinion if necessary, if your own vet's interventions are not working.
Thanks.
DBB

cocker5

Op there are numerous grain free dried food : I used totw for years before moving my dog into the RAW diet.

Here you go:

http://m.zooplus.ie/shop/dogs/dry_dog_food/taste_of_the_wild

Please note while higher quality seems more expensive on the offset you feed small quantities etc

Have you ever considered moving your dog to RAW - it's worth a look:

https://fetchyourpetneeds.com/t/nutriment-raw-dog-food

I moved my dog over at 10 years of age nearly 2 years ago and he's doing brilliantly - people comment all the time that he doesn't look 12.

WARFIELDWOLF

This is a great grain free-
grain free always worth it in any lab as they are prone to grain intolerance and obviously carbs add weight too
Www.all4pets.ie/collections/carnilove

StillThinking

Also had a Lab that done this, our vet at the time told us to use medicated foot power, for athletes foot, only needed it when her feet got wet but it worked great

tk123

StillThinking wrote: »

Also had a Lab that done this, our vet at the time told us to use medicated foot power, for athletes foot, only needed it when her feet got wet but it worked great

Haha I love solutions like this! :pac: